Whitaker And Adams Shoot 68s And Hold First-Round Lead At U.S. Mid-Amateur

Bandon, Ore. – Dan Whitaker, 26, of Cle Elum, Wash., and John Adams, 40, of San Clemente, Calif., each shot a 4-under-par 68 Saturday at the Bandon Dunes course to hold the lead after the first round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Whitaker and Adams were two strokes better than six others who posted 70s at the par 72, 6,966-yard Bandon Dunes layout, including 30-year-old Tim Mickelson of San Diego, Phil’s younger brother.

Past champion Austin Eaton (2004) of North Sutton, N.H., posted a 2-under-par 69 and was the low scorer at the par 71, 6,957-yard Bandon Trails, the second course being used for the first two rounds of stroke play through Sunday.  

Eaton’s 70 at was one stroke better than five others who posted 71s, including Trip Kuehne of Irving, Texas, a member of the winning 2007 USA Walker Cup team, and 39-year-old Tim Tucker of Coos Bay, Ore., a caddie at the host resort.

Former Mid-Amateur champions, Tim Jackson (1994 and 2001) of Germantown, Tenn., and George Zahringer (2002) of New York, were among six others finishing with 1-under 71s at Bandon Dunes.

Overall, only 23 of the 264 players finished under par, and only six of those under par were at Bandon Trails.

Whitaker, who would one day like to turn professional, finished with five birdies on his final 10 holes.

“I missed one short putt and my wedge play really wasn’t that good,” said Whitaker, who had his father, Tom, as his caddie. “But, I don’t think I missed a fairway. On the first three par 5s I had eagle putts that I left short, but I’m not complaining. I don’t want a do-over, I’ll tell you that. I always like a scorecard with no 5s.”

In contrast to the younger Whitaker, Adams already tasted life as a professional golfer. He played two years on the South American Tour and another on the Canadian Tour before applying for reinstatement as an amateur in 1994 and putting the clubs away, almost for good. He returned to competitive golf at the urging of his wife and was lucky enough to qualify for the 2004 Mid-Amateur at Sea Island, Ga.

“I owe it all to my wife,” said Adams, who made five birdies in his round. “She told me to get back out there. I didn’t even play for a long time, so this is fun. I’m 40 years old. It’s just reality.”

Eaton survived with a good score even though he made three bogeys in the first seven holes. He saved his round by making five putts of more than 12 feet.

“That sure helps,” said Eaton, who reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur in 2005. “It’s nice to have a good round under my belt because you don’t want to play catch-up tomorrow.”

A second stroke play round is set for Sunday before the field of 264 is trimmed to the low 64 scorers, who will advance to match play on the Bandon Dunes course.

The Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations. Email him with questions or comments at csmith@usga.org

Bandon, Ore. – Results from the first day of stroke play at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, played Saturday at the par 72, 6,966-yard Bandon Dunes course and the par 71, 6,857-yard Bandon Trails course at the Bandon Dunes Resort (d-Dunes, t-Trails)

Dan Whitaker, Cle Elum, Wash., 35-33—68d

John Adams, San Clemente, Calif., 34-34--68d

Austin Eaton III, North Sutton, N.H., 37-32--69t

Jason Bittick, Coto De Caza, Calif., 34-35--69d

Tim Hogarth, Northridge, Calif., 36-33--69d

Bryan Hoops, Chandler, Ariz., 36-34--70d

Dan Ladd, Weston, Mass., 37-33--70d

Eric Spencer, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 35-35--70t

Jason Rudquist, Peyton, Colo., 35-35--70d

John Ehrgott, Peoria, Ill., 36-34--70d

Jon Veneziano, Mount Dora, Fla., 34-36--70d

Stephen Sear, Washoe Valley, Nev., 35-35--70d

Tevis Upton, Douglasville, Ga., 35-35--70t

Tim Mickelson, San Diego, Calif., 34-36--70d

Tim Tucker, Coos Bay, Ore., 37-33--70t

Trip Kuehne, Dallas, Texas, 33-37--70t

Ty Cox, Fort Worth, Texas, 34-36--70t

Brandon Kearney, Bend, Ore., 34-37--71d

Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa., 34-37--71t

Chris Kuhlke, Augusta, Ga., 37-34--71t

Darrin Overson, Provo, Utah, 35-36--71d

George Zahringer III, New York, N.Y., 36-35--71d

Nathan Tyler, Tucson, Ariz., 37-34--71t

Ryan Parnell, Atlanta, Ga., 34-37--71d

Thomas McGraw, Montgomery, Texas, 34-37--71d

Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn., 34-37--71d

Travis Minzel, Lincoln, Neb., 36-35--71t

Alan Bratton, Stillwater, Okla., 34-38--72t

Arnold Cutrell, Greensburg, Pa., 34-38--72d

Brooks Snyder, Attica, Ind., 35-37--72t

Danny Green, Jackson, Tenn., 37-35--72t

Dave Womack, Mcdonough, Ga., 37-35--72t

David Noll Jr, Dalton, Ga., 38-34--72t

Jarrett Grimes, Columbia, S.C., 37-35--72t

Jason Higton, Fresno, Calif., 37-35--72 t

John O'Donnell, Los Angeles, Calif., 37-35--72 d

Ken Kellaney, Phoenix, Ariz., 37-35--72t

Richard Berkmeyer, St Louis, Mo., 36-36--72d

Scott Hardy, Pleasant Hill, Calif., 35-37--72d

Steven Liebler, Irmo, S.C., 37-35--72t

Bert Atkinson, Charleston, S.C., 37-36--73t

Bill Brown, Dublin, Ga., 37-36--73d

Bob Royak, Alpharetta, Ga., 34-39--73t

Brian Gillespie, Wayne, Pa., 33-40--73d

Chris Noel, Tulsa, Okla., 35-38--73d

Clifford Blanchard, Tiverton, R.I., 38-35--73t

Culley Barragan, Dallas, Texas, 35-38--73d

David Schnider, Vista, Calif., 37-36--73t

Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, Iowa, 35-38--73d

Jay Blumenfeld, Parsippany, N.J., 34-39--73d

Jonathan Mathias, San Antonio, Texas, 37-36--73d

Jordan Byrd, Clemson, S.C., 34-39--73t

Ken Moody, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., 39-34--73t

Michael McDermott, Havertown, Pa., 36-37--73t

Packard Dewitt, Germantown, Tenn., 34-39--73d

Robert Funk, Canyon Lake, Calif., 36-37--73d

Ryan Abbate, Weston, Fla., 34-39--73d

Thomas Gocke, Sammamish, Wash., 38-35--73d

Bill Seagris, Canada, 38-36--74t

Blake Johnson, Winnetka, Ill., 39-35--74d

Brian Gauley, Wake Forest, N.C., 37-37--74t

Brian Harris, Kokomo, Ind., 36-38--74d

Dan Horner, Salt Lake City, Utah, 41-33--74d

Danny Arvanitis, Manchester, N.H., 37-37--74d

David Barnett, Gulf Shores, Ala., 37-37--74d

Doug Stiles, Athens, Ga., 38-36--74t

Eric Peterson, Nampa, Idaho, 38-36--74t

Gary Wolstenholme, England, 38-36--74t

Jack Hall, Sea Island, Ga., 40-34--74t

James Kurtenbach, Denver, Colo., 37-37--74t

James Lehman, Minneapolis, Minn., 36-38--74d

Jason Cage, Baltimore, Md., 36-38--74t

Jay Smith, Edmond, Okla., 39-35--74d

Jeff Daniels, Harrisburg, Pa., 42-32--74t

Jon Peterson, Granite Bay, Calif., 35-39--74d

Ken Saksa, Naples, Fla., 39-35--74t

Kevin Marsh, Las Vegas, Nev., 36-38--74d

Kevin Wassmer, Poseyville, Ind., 36-38--74d

Mark Esposito, Naperville, Ill., 39-35--74t

Michael Pearson, Alpharetta, Ga., 40-34--74t

Michael Podolak, Oxbow, N.D., 36-38--74d

Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa., 36-38--74d

Neal Barfield, Dallas, Texas, 36-38--74d

Patrick Carter, Lesage, W.Va., 37-37--74d

Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va., 39-35--74t

Richard Barbles, Houston, Texas, 37-37--74t

Rob Long, Clarksville, Tenn., 36-38--74t

Sam Hogan, Valdosta, Ga., 35-39--74d

Steve White, Jackson, Wyo., 37-37--74t

Tim Romero, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 39-35--74d

Warren Caves, Newport Beach, Calif., 35-39--74d

Andy Cooper, The Woodlands, Texas, 39-36--75t

Brian Woods, Lutherville, Md., 36-39--75t

Craig Groenendaal, Centreville, Va., 38-37--75t

Craig Looper, Snoqualmie, Wash., 37-38--75d

Danny Riskam, Los Angeles, Calif., 38-37--75t

Donnie Cooper, Knoxville, Tenn., 39-36--75d

Doug Manor, Dallas, Texas, 39-36--75t

Gary Spector, Woodmere, N.Y., 37-38--75d

George Marucci Jr, Villanova, Pa., 37-38--75t

Jeffrey Hedden, Quaker Hill, Conn., 36-39--75d

Jeffrey Scohy, Mt Gilead, Ohio, 38-37--75t

Michael Cooper, Austin, Texas, 38-37--75t

Michael Dunham, Concord, Mass., 37-38--75t

Michael McCoy, West Des Moines, Iowa, 37-38--75d

Roger Newsom, Virginia Beach, Va., 37-38--75t

Steve Kline, Cincinnati, Ohio, 37-38--75t

Alan Hill, Spring Branch, Texas, 37-39--76d

Ben Lowery, Marietta, Ga., 39-37--76d

Brandon Davis, New York, N.Y., 36-40--76d

Chris Gallagher, West Chester, Pa., 38-38--76d

David Brown, Pittsburgh, Pa., 38-38--76t

Glenn Przybylski, Frankfort, Ill., 39-37--76d

Gordon Fraser, Scotland, 38-38--76t

James Edmondson, Hurst, Texas, 35-41--76d

Jeff Nielson, Gresham, Ore., 38-38--76d

John Bracken, Avon, Conn., 38-38--76d

John Fulkerson, Birmingham, Ala., 37-39--76d

John Ziegler, Burbank, Calif., 39-37--76d

Kenneth Weixel, New Albany, Ohio, 38-38--76t

Matt Adcock, Tempe, Ariz., 36-40--76d

Michael Kelley, Westerville, Ohio, 38-38--76t

Mike Ignasiak, Saline, Mich., 39-37--76d

Randal Hoder, New Haven, Conn., 39-37--76t

Ryan Sloane, Santa Clara, Calif., 40-36--76t

Scott McGihon, Bermuda D, Calif., 38-38--76t

Stephen McKalko, Troy, Mich., 39-37--76t

Stephen Seiden, Garnet Valley, Pa., 36-40--76t

Steve Johnson, Mequon, Wis., 41-35--76t

Tim Hume, Tampa, Fla., 39-37--76t

Tommy Clement, Mobile, Ala., 38-38--76t

Allan Small, Florham Park, N.J., 39-38--77t

Brian Westveer, Charlotte, N.C., 39-38--77t

Charles Kingsbaker, Phoenix, Ariz., 36-41--77d

Chris Lemley, Decatur, Ala., 35-42--77d

Clayton Houser, Lewisville, Texas, 40-37--77t

Daniel Russo, Hagaman, N.Y., 39-38--77t

Dave Balling, Cody, Wyo., 40-37--77t

Dave Segot, Bethpage, N.Y., 40-37--77t

David Liotta, Broomall, Pa., 38-39--77d

Douglas Clapp, Walpole, Mass., 41-36--77t

Drew Panebianco, Dresher, Pa., 39-38--77d

Greg Olson, Weaverville, Calif., 40-37--77t

Jim Volpenhein, Union, Ky., 36-41--77d

Jim Williams, Orinda, Calif., 37-40--77t

Justin Hoft, Bluffton, S.C., 38-39--77t

Kenneth Bakst, New York, N.Y., 42-35--77t

Michael Rowley, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 40-37--77t

Mike Riley, Panama City, Fla., 38-39--77d

Roger Hoit, Summit, N.J., 41-36--77d

Shawn McCaskey, Denver, Colo., 40-37--77d

Stan Payne, Little Rock, Ark., 38-39--77d

Stephen Putinski, Mentor, Ohio, 41-36--77t

Tim Katanski, Monroe, Mich., 36-41--77t

Tony Brown, Wayzata, Minn., 37-40--77d

Tripp Davis, Norman, Okla., 36-41--77t

Troy Boswell, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 38-39--77d

Alex Stamey, Mill Creek, Wash., 40-38--78d

Darin Newhouse, Tyler, Texas, 40-38--78t

Flip Bradley, Huntsville, Ala., 37-41--78t

James Grainger, Charlotte, N.C., 41-37--78d

Jason Humphrey, Coos Bay, Ore., 40-38--78t

Jason Stone, Oakland, Calif., 38-40--78d

Jeff New, The Woodlands, Texas, 39-39--78t

Jerry Thibeau, Rochester, N.Y., 38-40--78d

John Ervasti, Scarborough, N.Y., 37-41--78t

Johnny Canova, Rockford, Ill., 39-39--78t

Jonathan Morgan, Salt Lake City, Utah, 40-38--78t

Lee Sakugawa, Wailuku, Hawaii, 39-39--78d

Luke Johnson, Overland Park, Kan., 38-40--78d

Michael Bell, Indianapolis, Ind., 38-40--78t

Michael McKennon, Lake Oswego, Ore., 39-39--78d

P Chet Walsh, Wayne, Pa., 39-39--78d

Rick Dollarhide, Chico, Calif., 37-41--78d

Rob Morgan, Albuquerque, N.M., 39-39--78d

Scott Sills, West Monroe, La., 38-40--78d

Steven Hoffman, Bloomington, Ind., 39-39--78d

Steven Hudson, Birmingham, Ala., 42-36--78t

Terry Lisle, Columbus, Ga., 36-42--78d

Albert Oh, New York, N.Y., 42-37--79t

Alex Stanek, Roanoke, Va., 42-37--79t

Arthur Starrs, Dallas, Texas, 40-39--79t

Cliff Pierce, Edmond, Okla., 40-39--79t

Craig Steckowych, Greenland, N.H., 37-42--79d

Greg Melhus, Fargo, N.D., 38-41--79t

John Moheyer, Lima, Ohio, 40-39--79d

John Powell, Dalton, Ga., 42-37--79t

Jonathan Carlson, Kelseyville, Calif., 38-41--79d

Jonathan Scalf, Georgetown, Ky., 41-38--79t

Keith Stein, Jamaica, 38-41--79d

Matthew Salane, Jacksonville, Fla., 41-38--79d

Michael Puls, Irving, Texas, 38-41--79d

Mike Lockwood, Houston, Texas, 40-39--79t

Mike Slosek, Adams, Mass., 38-41--79d

Peter Krsnich, Overland Park, Kan., 39-40--79d

Scott Wille, Chicago, Ill., 40-39--79d

Bryan Barragate, Shaker Heights, Ohio, 39-41--80d

Bryon Shumate, Fort Smith, Ark., 41-39--80t

Chris Igawa, Hilo, Hawaii, 38-42--80d

Douglas Jones, Houston, Texas, 41-39--80d

Grady Brame, Hammond, La., 37-43--80d

Jason Dunn, South Riding, Va., 41-39--80d

Joe Hudson, New Port Richey, Fla., 39-41--80d

John Gollwitzer, Chicago, Ill., 41-39--80d

Keith Harris, Southern Pines, N.C., 35-45--80d

Larry Montplaisir, Gilbert, Ariz., 40-40--80d

Mark Wilson, Oakland, Ore., 42-38--80t

Marshall Butler, Louisville, Ky., 38-42--80t

Matthew Clarke, Loudonville, N.Y., 42-38--80t

Michael Kohn, Belding, Mich., 39-41--80d

Nick Masterpole, Syracuse, N.Y., 40-40--80d

Peter Flory, Chicago, Ill., 38-42--80d

Robert Bradshaw, Suffolk, Va., 43-37--80t

Scott Lorenz, La Canada, Calif., 39-41--80t

Scott Stevens, La Quinta, Calif., 40-40--80t

Stuart Wallace, Houston, Texas, 41-39--80d

Thomas Prevost, Mcminnville, Ore., 40-40--80t

Tom McParlan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 40-40--80d

Andy Nevin, Danville, Calif., 41-40--81t

Britten Barker, Gig Harbor, Wash., 39-42--81d

Craig Brewer, Bay Shore, N.Y., 39-42--81d

Daren Cooper, Albuquerque, N.M., 41-40--81d

Eric Olander, Lake Forest, Calif., 39-42--81t

Jason Pridmore, Ventura, Calif., 38-43--81 d

Jonathan Shipley, Houston, Texas, 37-44--81 t

Mark Gallaugher, Batavia, Ill., 40-41--81d

Nick Amen, Woodland, Calif., 40-41--81d

Robert Lent, Allison Park, Pa., 44-37--81t

Thomas Werkmeister, Grand Rapids, Mich., 41-40--81t

Tim O'Brien, Mequon, Wis., 44-37--81t

Vance Antoniou, North Barrington, Ill., 41-40--81d

Walker Taylor, Wilmington, N.C., 41-40--81t

William Mallon, Vero Beach, Fla., 40-41--81d

Adam Angst, Peoria, Ill., 39-43--82d

Bob Bechtold, Avondale, Pa., 42-40--82d

Brian Kramer, Far Hills, N.J., 41-41--82t

James Trungale, Austin, Texas, 41-41--82d

Michael Alsup, Tulsa, Okla., 42-40--82t

Mike Hyland, Toledo, Ohio, 44-38--82t

Scott Jacobs, Hollywood, Fla., 44-38--82t

Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, Ill., 39-43--82t

Blair Strain, Los Angeles, Calif., 44-39--83d

Kevin Conover, Petaluma, Calif., 40-43--83d

Lee Kolquist, Geneva, Ill., 40-43--83d

Peter Israel, Venice, Calif., 39-44--83d

Rob Carpentier, North Andover, Mass., 40-43--83t

J T Johnson, Woodbury, Minn., 40-44--84t

Jeffrey Walker, Pompano Beach, Fla., 41-43--84t

Chuck Ingram, Shepherdstown, W.Va., 41-44--85d

Tom Christensen, Waterloo, Iowa, 43-42--85t

David Baker, Branford, Conn., 41-45--86d

Don Gibson, Ladera Ranch, Calif., 48-38--86t

Joe Sanders, Incline Village, Nev., 43-43--86d

John Wright, Elmhurst, Ill., 42-44--86t

T D Luten, Raleigh, N.C., 43-43--86t

Trey Owen, Austin, Texas, 40-46--86d

Barry Cohn, Orange Village, Ohio, 42-45--87t

Deron Reisman, Columbus, Ohio, 41-46--87t

Joe Neveril, Downers Grove, Ill., 43-44--87t

Mark Gardner, Redlands, Calif., 46-42--88t

Josh Dennis, Birmingham, Ala., 47-42--89t

Rob Stover, Durham, N.C., 39-51--90t

Geoff Klein, Mankato, Minn., 38-53--91t

Jon Jacobs, Cedarburg, Wis., DQ